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Oil level

Lola - 20/4/13 at 05:04 PM

Hi there just after so technical advice, does anyone know if you need to reduce your oil level if you shorten your sump. I have had an oil leak from the crank seal, I have had it checked and the seal replaced and I still have a leak. Does anyone out there have any ideas.

rusty nuts - 20/4/13 at 05:25 PM

I have a shortened sump on my Xflow engined car , the oil capacity is reduced but I still use the original dipstick and fill to the Maximum mark .

FazerBob - 20/4/13 at 05:35 PM

Oil capacity should ideally be the same, but if in doubt use the dip-stick. The important thing is not to overfill. you are more likely to damage an engine with the oil level too high than with it too low.

loggyboy - 20/4/13 at 05:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
I have a shortened sump on my Xflow engined car , the oil capacity is reduced but I still use the original dipstick and fill to the Maximum mark .

As above.
My shortened sump was 0.8 litres less than the standard one..

OrangeJuiced - 20/4/13 at 06:05 PM

My sump is only about half a litre smaller. Original dipstick is not correct so I cut a new notch into the dipstick at the appropriate new max level.

umgrybab - 20/4/13 at 07:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by OrangeJuiced
My sump is only about half a litre smaller. Original dipstick is not correct so I cut a new notch into the dipstick at the appropriate new max level.

Not sure why the dipstick would no longer be correct. It measures from the crank to the top of the oil, which is the critical measurement. If you reduced the size and are still shoving most of the oil back in, then the height would be different but then you also risk bleeding through your seals, overheating, and foaming in the oil.

Dooey99 - 20/4/13 at 07:52 PM

oil capacity isnt the main cause of engine failure its oil surge, if you reduce the capacity of your sump still fill to the standard marker on the dipstick but you should baffle your sump to help maintain the oil in the correct place so the oil can be picked up and circulated through the engine

britishtrident - 20/4/13 at 08:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by OrangeJuiced
My sump is only about half a litre smaller. Original dipstick is not correct so I cut a new notch into the dipstick at the appropriate new max level.

eh ??????????????????????????????????

britishtrident - 20/4/13 at 08:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
I have a shortened sump on my Xflow engined car , the oil capacity is reduced but I still use the original dipstick and fill to the Maximum mark .

As above.
My shortened sump was 0.8 litres less than the standard one..

OrangeJuiced - 20/4/13 at 08:15 PM

I may be wrong but I thought a 2.0L pinto takes 3.75L of oil (with filter). Sump reduced volume by 0.5L. I put in 3.25 into engine and after turning over settling etc marked the new level on the dipstick.

blakep82 - 20/4/13 at 08:18 PM

You won't want the oil any higher in the engine or the crank can whip it up. If you're worried there wont be enough oil in the sump, then add some wings to the sides to increase the capacity, but don't make new marks higher on the dip stick, or theres totally no point in having maximum marks

tomgregory2000 - 20/4/13 at 08:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by OrangeJuiced
I may be wrong but I thought a 2.0L pinto takes 3.75L of oil (with filter). Sump reduced volume by 0.5L. I put in 3.25 into engine and after turning over settling etc marked the new level on the dipstick.

Funniest thing I've read in ages.

No no no

It don't matter what size your sump is, it could be the size of a swimming pool you must still use the original marks on the dipstick

Dooey99 - 20/4/13 at 08:46 PM

Some engines are designed to have the crank splash in the oil in the sump to help lubricate the crank but if you have to much oil in the sump and the crank splashes in the sump to much or it isn't designed to splash in the oil in the sump and it does splash due to over filling it will decrease torque and acceleration dramatically and will eventually destroy the engine!

OrangeJuiced - 20/4/13 at 09:11 PM

The important length ie from the "collar" on the dipstick to the maximum fill notch hasn't changed so its not overfilled. The theoretically correct volume for my modifed sump works out with a fill line a few mm under the maximum so I marked it for easy checking.

loggyboy - 20/4/13 at 09:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by OrangeJuiced
The important length ie from the "collar" on the dipstick to the maximum fill notch hasn't changed so its not overfilled. The theoretically correct volume for my modifed sump works out with a fill line a few mm under the maximum so I marked it for easy checking.

Your working on the principle the dip stick just needs to show the quantity of oil, it also and more importantly shows the max level.

The level of oil in the cars specs will be to the max line not min. You should be filling to the original max line and it will then contain the original specd volume, minus your sump loss.

britishtrident - 21/4/13 at 07:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Dooey99
Some engines are designed to have the crank splash in the oil in the sump to help lubricate the crank but if you have to much oil in the sump and the crank splashes in the sump to much or it isn't designed to splash in the oil in the sump and it does splash due to over filling it will decrease torque and acceleration dramatically and will eventually destroy the engine!

Yes the only car engine I have ever worked on had splash lubrication was Humber 9/20 built in 1926 an even that didn't scoop oil straight from the sump, it had an oil pup that continuously overfilled troughs below each cylinder that little scoops on the big end caps ploughed into. The natural pumping action of plain bearing helps draw oil into the bearing.

40inches - 21/4/13 at 09:06 AM

The clue is in the words "oil level" not "oil capacity" leave the dip stick markings alone.

britishtrident - 21/4/13 at 10:26 AM

I once encountered an A Series engine in a Mini that had been filled completely to the top of the rocker cover, it must had about 3 gallons in it.

rusty nuts - 21/4/13 at 12:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
I once encountered an A Series engine in a Mini that had been filled completely to the top of the rocker cover, it must had about 3 gallons in it.

I once encountered an A Series in an 1100 or 1300 belonging to a little old lady who said it took a lot of water to fill up, she had filled through the oil filler